A friend texted me a few days ago and told me that she was playing Scrabble (not sure whether it was online or on iPhone) and her entry was "VBAC," but Scrabble wouldn't accept it. We joked that Scrabble *should* accept VBAC and possibly VBAMC, VBA3C, HBAC, HBA2C, and others.
Then I got to thinking about it. Why *shouldn't* VBAC be accepted as a regular word--both in options for birth, and in our national conversations? Wouldn't it be nice American mothers had true informed choice of care for their pregnancy? Wouldn't it be great if evidence-based care were the rule rather than the exception? Wouldn't it be awesome if VBAC were such a mainstream term that every American of childbearing age knew what a VBAC is and that it's a “reasonable option” for most women with a previous cesarean section, according to the National Institutes of Health?
Radar, laser, and snafu are all acronyms which have become regular words in American vocabulary. Isn't it time for VBAC to go mainstream, for the safety of mothers and babies?
For the uninitiated,
VBAC = vaginal birth after cesarean
VBAMC = vaginal birth after multiple cesareans
VBA3C = vaginal birth after 3 cesareans
HBAC = homebirth after cesarean
HBA2C = homebirth after 2 cesareans
(All of which can be safe options, depending on individual circumstances, consult your medical charts and care provider, do your own research, and other disclaimers.)
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